Turns out, you spell Nha Trang with a “H”, not “Na Trang”, like I hashtag-ed my Instagram pictures. But to err is human, and this human and Jo spent 72 blissful hours in Nha Trang, a coastal resort city in South Vietnam with a stunning beach and a Mat Salleh around every corner. The epiphany to visit Nha Trang followed an article in Travel 360 titled 96 Hours in Nha Trang. I favour destinations with a proportional blend of nature and urban- I want to soak in the Ocean and hike amongst the greenery, but not without a decent cuppa- and Nha Trang seemed like the answer to my prerequisites.
And she (yes, places are feminine) did not disappoint.
Here are 9 activities Jo and I enjoyed in Nha Trang, the land where piousness meets the sea.
ONE: GOT HIPPY CORN ROWS BRAIDS
I’m pretty sure we got ripped off at 200k Dong per pax, but lurveee the corn row braids! We opted it asymmetric, although Broady insist it makes me look like a technologically illiterate version of Sombra from Overwatch (she’s a hacker):
TWO: EMBRACE SPIRITUALITY
Grab cars are a reliable mode of transportation in Nha Trang. We grab one (punny?) to the Buddhist Temple of Long Son Pagoda. Here, we ascend a flights of stairs to take a series of narcissistic selfies with a sculpture of Guan Yin.
A 15 minutes walk away is Christ the King Cathedral. Mass is to take place, as signalled by the urgent ringing of the church bell. We attempt to enter the cathedral, only to be deterred by men in lanyards. Perhaps, my standard uniform of baby-tee and shorts are prohibited on church grounds?
Despite our earnest intentions, we got distracted and didn’t make it to our third location- the Hindu Temple, Po Nagar Cham Towers. However, here’s a picture that hopefully justifies its semblance.
These three religious sites are in close proximity to each other (few minutes by car), proof that people of different beliefs CAN exist in juxtaposition without being dick heads to each other.
THREE: WATCH A GALINA SHOW
Photo credit: www.tripadvisor.com
Presented daily at 730pm local time and priced at 350k Dong per pax, watch this show if toned, sculptured bodies pretzeled into humanly impossible poses is your thing. Of the dancers, every male have abs and the females spot thigh gaps. On an unrelated note, watching size 0 hoofers prance across a stage severely damaged my self esteem.
FOUR: DRINK VIETNAMESE COFFEE IN A VIETNAMESE COFFEE SHOP
By “Vietnamese coffee shop”, I mean a row of stools in a side alley, carefully laid out for customers to perch on while indulging cups of caffeinated delight. And boy, it’s delectable.
FIVE: LUXURIATE THE VITAMIN-SEA
Whiff whiff pad pad pad whiff whiff pad pad pad… My arms are folded. I breathe easily through the snorkel in my mouth, the flippers on my feet pad pad as I propel myself around, drinking in the underwater world from the surface. Snorkelling at Hon Mun and Hon Tam Islands was a joy. Clear waters and beautiful corals? Why, thank you.
SIX: A CITY STROLL AT NIGHT
At night, the city springs to life. If the streets were crowded in the day, the night seems to pack twice the pedestrians. We stroll from roadway to pavement to lane; beauty spas to retail shops and eateries, every street holds a fresh intrigue.
There’s even a night market, selling everything from souvenirs to desserts. But I cannot lie, this market has nothing on Malaysia’s pasar malams- please, guys, only 2 food stalls? Unacceptable!
SEVEN: ENJOY A MUD BATH
The late E.E. Cummings said, “the wold is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful”. And I mad-lusciously enjoyed soaking in a tub of mud, it was simply mud-derful! This activity is highly recommend to anybody fancying a relaxing dip.
EIGHT: EAT BO NE FOR BREAKFAST
Bo Ne is a Vietnamese version of steak and eggs, and I dare say they do it better than the west. Served on a hot (I can attest to this. Warning: don’t touch!) plate with bread and salad, wipe the sauce with the bread for a scrumptious chow. We had it two mornings in a row! Because, just like a pair of comfy flip flops, quality is worth re-relishing.
NINE: SAUNTER ALONG THE BEACH
Sand in your toes, salty air up your nostrils, pointy umbrellas, old lady selling sotong, an unobstructed view of Vinpearl Land in the distance, PRC tourist flapping around in the shallow end of the ocean, weird girls squatting in the water for pictures… just your typical, everyday beach.
Of course, last but not least, we take pictures of a lanjiao.
